Who Here Does Fermentation Feeding?

[Lavender Mum]

Hey everyone,
I wanted to see who ferments their feed and if so, at what age you started your chicks on it. I have 1 1/2 week old chicks and I soak their feed overnight but, haven't fermented it yet. Is it something you do all year long or do you only do it a few times a year? Thanks!

 

[Percheron chick]

I do it from the beginning. I find the dry mash ends up in the bottom of the brooder as they like to stand in the feeders. It also gets additional water in them as they tend to be dehydrated from shipping. I stop when they join the flock.

 

[Alittlebitofsunshine]

Hey everyone,
I wanted to see who ferments their feed and if so, at what age you started your chicks on it. I have 1 1/2 week old chicks and I soak their feed overnight but, haven't fermented it yet. Is it something you do all year long or do you only do it a few times a year? Thanks!

I’ve been giving mine fermented food since they were about two weeks old. They love it and have done great with it. I have chickens, ducks and turkeys. They all have had it since very young.

 

[cydthekid50]

Hey everyone,
I wanted to see who ferments their feed and if so, at what age you started your chicks on it. I have 1 1/2 week old chicks and I soak their feed overnight but, haven't fermented it yet. Is it something you do all year long or do you only do it a few times a year? Thanks!

I started fermenting starter feed as soon as I got my chicks from the hatchery. It cleared up the pasty butt on my bantams post-haste!

 

[mochimomo]

I started fermenting when they could eat out of containers.

 

[BastyPutt]

100%

For the layers (50 hens, 2 roosters), we have free choice standard feed that we mix here on the farm, and feed the same feed less a few ingredients, that we ferment and give Mon, Wed, Friday to what equates to about 2 cups per chicken per week - an also with 10 lbs of field pea and wheat fodder on Tuesdays and Saturdays. On Wednesdays, we also feed 1/2 gallon of raw cows milk discard and then they also get small amounts of goat milk discard through out the week.

For broilers, ferment from day one and dont have free choice, but initially we buy an all organic protein crumble from a local feed company in Culver, Or. Then, as they get larger and can handle bigger pieces, we mix our own high protein broiler. So the broilers sole eat fermented feed.

Since we have fed this routine, we have insanely healthy, excellent producing hens and very nice finishing broilers. Aside from the effort and extra cost that goes into the fermenting, sourcing and mixing, we dont have a single complaint. At the same time we switched, we decided to also cease all non-natural remedies. The flock has since turned over and we have had great pest and illness resistance.

With all that said (most of it off topic) I attribute the health of the flock to the fermented food. I think it is good to mix your own, but regardless if you dont, the fermented food is the ticket. Highly, highly recommend.

 

[Lavender Mum]

100%

For the layers (50 hens, 2 roosters), we have free choice standard feed that we mix here on the farm, and feed the same feed less a few ingredients, that we ferment and give Mon, Wed, Friday to what equates to about 2 cups per chicken per week - an also with 10 lbs of field pea and wheat fodder on Tuesdays and Saturdays. On Wednesdays, we also feed 1/2 gallon of raw cows milk discard and then they also get small amounts of goat milk discard through out the week.

For broilers, ferment from day one and dont have free choice, but initially we buy an all organic protein crumble from a local feed company in Culver, Or. Then, as they get larger and can handle bigger pieces, we mix our own high protein broiler. So the broilers sole eat fermented feed.

Since we have fed this routine, we have insanely healthy, excellent producing hens and very nice finishing broilers. Aside from the effort and extra cost that goes into the fermenting, sourcing and mixing, we dont have a single complaint. At the same time we switched, we decided to also cease all non-natural remedies. The flock has since turned over and we have had great pest and illness resistance.

With all that said (most of it off topic) I attribute the health of the flock to the fermented food. I think it is good to mix your own, but regardless if you dont, the fermented food is the ticket. Highly, highly recommend.

I totally agree I think fermented feed is the best choice too. I've had my birds on fermented feed for about two weeks now and it's an easy task for me to get together since I'm not mixing large amounts at a time.

 

[BastyPutt]

I totally agree I think fermented feed is the best choice too. I've had my birds on fermented feed for about two weeks now and it's an easy task for me to get together since I'm not mixing large amounts at a time.

Right on. Good for you. The only regret I have is how long it took me to get on the wagon.

Are your birds of laying age?

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

I ferment when we are low on money or when it is too cold to leave the coop, they absolutely love it. They devour it very very quickly, I’ve never given it to chicks but I’ve been thinking about it

 

[BastyPutt]

I ferment when we are low on money or when it is too cold to leave the coop, they absolutely love it. They devour it very very quickly, I’ve never given it to chicks but I’ve been thinking about it

We feed the broilers fermented organic high protein pellet for the first few weeks, from day one and they always come out great. For the layer chicks, we usually do free choice on their normal feed, and give them fermented food 3 days of the week. About 1/4 cup for 20 chicks or so. They don't seem to really see it as a treat until they are 2 or 3 weeks old I'd say.